Charles I - volume 266: April 20-30, 1634

Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles I, 1633-4. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1863.

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'Charles I - volume 266: April 20-30, 1634', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles I, 1633-4, (London, 1863) pp. 560-579. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/chas1/1633-4/pp560-579 [accessed 28 March 2024]

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April 20-30, 1634

April 20.
Whitehall.
Proclamation appointing the time when his Majesty's subjects may approach the Court for cure of the disease called the King's evil. By the grace of God the kings of this realm, by many ages past have had the happiness by their sacred touch to cure those who are afflicted with the disease above mentioned, and his Majesty has had blessed success therein; but seeing that fit times are necessary to be appointed for performing this great work of charity, and considering the inconveniences in respect of the temperature of the season and contagion, no person is to repair to court to be healed before the feast of All Saints next coming. [Coll. Procs. Car. I. No. 173: One page.]
April 20. 1. Justices of Peace for Sussex to the Council. Certify the measures taken by them for the relief of the poor, under the Book of Orders, within six small hundreds in the Downish division near the town of Bourne. [Half a page.]
April 20.
Aberdeen.
3. Dr. Robert Baron to Archbishop Laud. Praises the Archbishop for his observations on the authority of Scripture in his Answer to Fisher the Jesuit, and still more for his having quieted the discord in the Church on the subject of Predestination and the questions connected therewith, by the royal prohibition of preaching upon that subject. Latin. [Endorsed by William Dell as received on 5th July, 1634. One page and three quarters.]
April 20.
Deptford.
30. Kenrick Edisbury to Nicholas. The bearer, John Attawell, has been employed many years as a labourer in the yard at Chatham, and in the late Commissioners' time came up constantly every fourteen days, to fetch the imprest money for the workmen, wherein he had adventured his life often, especially in the sickness time, and in sundry escapes from thieves that belaid him, so that the King never had loss through him; but he was once robbed on Shooter's Hill, in 1626, of about 15l., money sent to particular men, which has been his undoing. The Commissioners thought to settle some pension on him, to be always attendant to carry letters, fetching money and such necessary service; but having no precedent, recommended him for purser in the Fortune pink, but that place being uncertain, the Officers have had of late much ado to find him maintenance. Edisbury has advised him to petition for the cook's place in the Victory, now void, and recommends him to Nicholas. Believes all the Officers of the Navy will entreat him on Attawell's behalf. Intends, to-morrow, to go towards Portsmouth, with the pay. [One page.]
April 20. 4. Certificate of Justices of Peace for co. Hertford, of measures taken for relief of the poor within the half-hundred of Hitchin, and hundred of Broadwater, from 23rd January last. [One page.]
April 20. 5. Henry Marten, George Purefey, and Thomas Fettiplace, Justices of Peace for Berks, to the Sheriff. Certify their proceedings for relief of the poor according to the Book of Orders within the hundreds of Farringdon, Wantage, Lambourne, Shrivenham, and Garfield. [Indorsed as received by Sir William Jones and Sir Thomas Trevor, on 19th May 1634. One page.]
April 21.
Welbeck.
6. William Earl of Newcastle to the Council. The bearer, Thomas Flower, appeared before them lately, touching some defects in showing his arms in co. Notts, and other misdemeanors. The writer perceives they have brought him to conformity, so that the Earl has received good assurance from him that he will hereafter do his duty. [One page.]
April 21. 7. Officers of the Navy to Lords of the Admiralty. Recommend John Attawell for cook of the Victory, in place of John Mould, lately deceased. [Three quarters of a page.]
April 21. 8. Petition of William Fisher to the same. Prays to be appointed cook of the Victory, void by the death of John Mould. [Half a page.] Annexed,
8. i. Certificate of Officers of the Navy and others of the sufficiency of William Fisher for a cook's place in the Navy. 12th August, 1633. [Three quarters of a page.]
April 21.
New College, Oxford.
9. Thomas Reade to his uncle, Sec. Windebank. Letter of gratitude and praise. Latin. [Three quarters of a page.]
April [2] 1. 10. Theophilus Earl of Suffolk to the same. Mr. Percivall, well known to the writer to have done good service in the Customs of Dover, having a desire to serve his Majesty in a more eminent way, has agreed with Capt. Barker (captain of Archcliff bulwark) to succeed him, which the writer is content to give way to, if it please his Majesty to grant the same. [Indorsed as "granted." Three quarters of a page.]
April 21.
St. Nicholas, [Harnham.]
11. Dr. Matthew Nicholas to his brother Edward Nicholas. Condoles with him on the death of his son Matthew. Incloses an excuse to Mr. Herbert for not having seen him when he was at Wilton at the last receipt. The writer was misled by false information. Will procure a copy of "the lease" for Edward Nicholas on Dr. Osborne's return home. Will also way-lay the Dean and Dr. Henchman's brags and interpretations of the last order, but has small hope of discovering anything, because they are jealous of any ears whereto the writer has access. When the order was first published there was not a word spoken on either side. [One page.]
April 21.
Barnstaple.
12. Mayor and others of Barnstaple to Francis Earl of Bedford, Lord Lieutenant of Devon. The Council by his furtherance granted Barnstaple power to raise a separate trained band of 100 men, with a captain of their own choosing, which has taken so good effect that no town in those parts is better furnished for men or arms. But some persons out of a perverse disposition endeavour to cross the service by refusing to provide arms or contribute to a martial rate, whilst others of the soldiers think themselves too good to be under command, and will appear only at their pleasure. Solicit his advice what course they should take. If they might have power to bind over some of the principals to appear before the Council or the Earl, it would be a means to reform them. [One page.]
April 21.
Deptford.
13. Kenrick Edisbury to Nicholas. Incloses papers forgotten to be sent in the late letter to the Lords, touching the yearly expense of the Navy. Is ready to take coach with the paymasters, to pay the ordinary at Portsmouth, which the rest of the officers have put upon him. Prays Nicholas to mind the Lords touching the chips, and to ascertain their pleasure about the ordinary expense of the Navy; also to get the Officers of the Navy a time appointed to attend the Lords with their plots, and that they may have a meeting with Mr. Harbord in the meantime, respecting the Irish business. Has rough-drawn the account of the provisions, but the general account for monies cannot be done without Thomas Morgan, purser of the Ninth Whelp, and William Brissenden, purser of the Fifth Whelp, who can best resolve them of the particulars. Prays Nicholas to move the Lords to send for them, or the account cannot be done until the ship comes back. [One page.]
April 22.
Lambeth.
14. Archbishop Laud to Sir Thomas Roe. Was very willing to let Roe see that he took Durie's person, and the pains he has been at in so good a cause, into speedy consideration. That it succeeded not was no fault of the Archbishop's, nor did he suffer Durie to bear the charge of a fruitless journey. Whensoever it shall please God to put the like opportunity into his hands, he shall be ready to do him good. Concerning Durie's return to the Diet, the Archbishop's letters have lain by him long since, one to such Lutherans, and the other to such Calvinists, as wrote to him. In those letters the Archbishop has expressed himself so far as it can be any ways fit, and Durie has free leave to go to the Diet to be held in May. His success there the Archbishop wishes may he happy, and is clearly of Roe's judgment, that if Durie can do no good there, there will be little done at their private houses. If a public act could be gained at this meeting for a reconciliation in general terms, Laud would think there were some footing for further proceedings, but till then he cannot see much hope. The writer has moved his Majesty several times, but though the King highly approves the work, yet will he not publicly avow either Durie or his negotiation; neither doth he hold it fit so to do, where the Princes upon the place have not publicly declared themselves. The Archbishop has prepared a letter to Sir Robert Anstruther, his Majesty's ambassador, which he means to show the King and then deliver to Durie. Perceives Roe has received letters from the Chancellor of Sweden, so has the Archbishop. His contain nothing but a general desire of assistance to his son. Though the Archbishop is in the Court, yet is he as far almost from being able to give assistance as Roe, for these negotiations are handled at the foreign committee, of which number the Archbishop is none. He has spoken his mind to his Majesty in private, and that is all he can do. Concerning Roe, the Archbishop has spoken more and more often to his Majesty than ever he promised Roe to do, or than ever he thought he should have had opportunity to do; and though he has received very good answers, yet he sees not yet any footing given him upon which he can ground any hopes to serve Roe. It may be because he had once the happiness to join to help his old acquaintance Sec. Windebank forward, Roe may conceive him able to do more than he is; but he would very willingly have Roe understand that if Windebank had not had more powerful friends than the writer he had never been where he is.—P.S. Roe's former letters were wholly concerning matters of state in foreign parts, to which Laud could give no answer. [One page and a half.]
April 22. 15. John More to [Sec. Windebank]. Long excuse of himself in the matter of certain buildings which he had been ordered in the Star Chamber to demolish with a fine for their erection, to be increased by way of penalty in case the buildings were not removed by a certain day. More desired that before proceeding to demolition there might be a reference to view the buildings and take true knowledge of the state of his case, and that upon their report such execution might be done, or such grace extended, as should be judged fit. [Three pages.]
April 22.
Rochester.
16. Thomas Wilson, boatswain of the Red Lion, to Nicholas. The death of boatswain [John] Johnson has caused the remove of his deputy, Moorecock. Entreats Nicholas to procure a warrant for Elias Michell to serve in Moorecock's stead. [Half a page.]
April 22. 17. Justices of Peace for co. Stafford to Sir Henry Griffith, the sheriff. Report measures taken within the hundred of Totmanslow for relief of the poor in execution of the Book of Orders. Usefulness of a Provost Marshal in clearing the county of vagrants. [One page.]
April 22. 18. List of licences granted to sell tobacco in Oxford. There were five such licences, each granted on payment of 10l. fine, and with a rent reserved of 10l. per annum. [Half a page.]
April 22. 19. Oath or vow which John Oxenbridge, of Magdalen College, Oxford, and a tutor there, procured to be taken to himself by certain of his pupils. It promises obedience to his government in hair and clothes, studies, performance of religious duties, company and recreations. It extended also to unveiling to Oxenbridge at times of reading and private conference, and telling him what the vower knew of his fellow-pupils. [Received by Archbishop Laud this day. One page and a half.]
April 22. 20. Interrogatories upon which John Oxenbridge was examined respecting the preceding Sacramentum Academicum, or oath of obedience. [Endorsed by Archbishop Laud. One page.]
April 23.
Westminster.
21. The King to Archbishop Laud. The Archbishop knows with what care the King has pursued the repair of St. Paul's, and of how great necessity the work is for the church and the honour of the kingdom, yet jealousies have been cast among the people as if it were not fit (being a slander upon God's service), nor to be compassed (being a scandal upon the nation), and as if the work were but pretended by the King to get money together, and then to turn it to other uses, a thing not more base than hateful to all the King's princely thoughts, which he has hitherto preserved entire to the service of God. Against all false and scandalous rumours, the King resolves to go really on with this great work, and requires the Archbishop to continue his care, and to send a copy of these letters to the Mayor and Aldermen of London. The King formerly promised 500l. a year to that work, which for three years he has paid into the Chamber of London; he is now resolved to enlarge that bounty, and to undertake the whole repair of the west end of the church, which will come to a far greater sum, and towards which he will have the 1,500l. already paid to go. For the future he will pay such money as shall be necessary into the Chamber of London, and he requires the Archbishop to call upon the King's surveyor to set forth the work. [Copy. Three pages.]
April 23. 22. Petition of Francis Grove to the Lords of the Admiralty. Stephen Barrett and his son, deputies for making saltpetre for cos. Cambridge, Huntingdon, Lincoln, and Leicester, have brought in no saltpetre for almost one year, nor shown cause why. Prays that he may be appointed deputy for those counties. [Nicholas has endorsed, "Send for Barrett and his sureties." One page.]
April 23.
Westminster.
Nicholas to Sir John Drake. Sends copy of warrant of the Lords of the Admiralty for Drake to pay Nicholas 250l. [see p. 426] out of the money in his hands for tenths of prizes. Hoped he would have paid the same before this time. [Copy. Nicholas's Letter Book. Domestic, James I., Vol. ccxix., p. 101.]
April 23. 23. Examinations of John Wright, John Sancklow, William Hale and Peter Brockelsby taken by Sec. Coke, respecting their purchase of various pieces of brass ordnance. The largest purchase was one made on 20th January 1631–2 by Wright of five pieces which had been previously sold by Giles Green for Lady Hatton, from the castle of Purbeck. Wright also bought, on 22nd August 1633, three pieces from Lord Brooke. [One page and a half.] Annexed,
23. i. Account by John Wright of his various purchases of brass ordnance. [Half a page.]
23. ii. Note of two sales of brass ordnance in 1632, which would be proved by John Spencer, gunner. In this statement it is affirmed that Lady Hatton had sold sixteen brass pieces from her castle in co. Dorset. [Half a page.]
23. iii. Copy of the preceding, with additions in the handwriting of Sec. Coke. [Half a page.]
April 23. 24. Certificate of John More and Richard Berrie, that Thomas Holmes, prisoner in the Clink, has "a very sickly body, being also troubled with a cold palsy, obstruction of the spleen, besides the stone and bloody water." [Half a page.]
April 23. 25. Certified extract from accounts of the Exchequer, that 2l. 6s. 8d. was due to John Dawson, clerk, chaplain of Maidenhead, on account of his stipend of 4l. 13s. 4d. per annum. [Half a page.]
April 24.
Bul[wick].
26. [Sir Thomas Roe] to Elizabeth Queen of Bohemia. Before the arrival of the Ambassador Oxenstiern, he wrote to her under cover of Mons. Joachimi, to present those thoughts which might conduce to her service in his employment. What success he shall receive, the writer knows no more than that the order for levies is generally granted. This the ambassador advised Roe, and that he found his Majesty very gracious in his answers, and excellently inclined to the public protection in his conferences; but yet he seemed doubtful of the full resolution. The Chancellor Oxenstiern wrote two letters to Roe, full of affection, with more confidence than knowledge of Roe's condition. This is one of his disgraces that a better opinion abroad hinders that he ought to have at home. Though he is sorry to be absent, it was safer for him to keep in his retirement, than to appear where he might raise a jealousy that he meddled in secrets of state, yet he has not omitted to write to the ambassador what he conceived necessary for his information, neither has he failed to welcome General Ruthen [Ruthven]. He does not believe his master will yet employ him. The King is master of his own times and end, and though Roe thanks her for expressing her good opinion to have Roe sent to Frankfort, and to recommend it to Sir William Boswell, who is a worthy person, yet he is almost assured Sir William will not deliver that message to the King; for statesmen, like good musicians, will move no discords, but first discover the affections of great men, and tune and time with them. When she thinks Roe may serve her, if she makes it her own suit, it will not be denied. He had desired it, as well to bring himself again into the scene, as that he found it wished abroad, and that it cannot but reflect some demerit upon him to be laid aside, when his conscience knows he has served his master so faithfully, that he had no fault but to have effected more than was expected, or was to all men welcome. Yet these considerations moved him not so much as that he was confident he could have served his Majesty effectually, especially his soul being fixed on the treaty of the ecclesiastical peace, which he has driven on to such a state of perfection that if he had gotten the higher ground of a public quality, he could at this Diet have finished it. Reports to her what had been done by Durie abroad, and what for him by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the King, in both of whom Roe found a wariness how to be engaged lest it might involve an engagement of states. Durie will pass by the Hague and beseech her favour and letters, which Roe entreats her to give him, he being an excellent man, and Roe believes one whom God has raised up to be an instrument of the greatest treaty of this age. Roe is persuaded he shall see it accomplished, if it fall not "by us who should most affect both the benefit and honour.' Beseeches her never to leave Hope, which is a sweet air to breathe in. These clouds cannot long endure, but the sun, her brother's love, is constant, natural, and as eternal as himself. There is some whisper of changes in court greatness. Begs her to engage and oblige the Archbishop of Canterbury by her addresses and letters. He is the man that is able to serve her. [Copy. One page and a half.]
April 24.
Westminster.
27. John Durie to Sir Thomas Roe. Sends him an answer from the Archbishop of Canterbury: see the 22nd April 1634, No. 14. Yesterday when he went for his letters, he got this also. The letters he has are two inscribed to himself, one to be showed to the Reformed and the other to the Lutheran churches, and a third to Sir Robert Anstruther. Sir Robert is not yet gone from Hamburgh, nor will he leave till his secretary, Mr. Hurst, be come to him, who is not yet dispatched from hence. Durie hopes to be as soon ready as he, and so to be able to find Sir Robert at Hamburgh. Knows not the contents of the letter he has to Sir Robert. The Archbishop promised to show it to him, but changed his resolution. If Durie must again proceed in a private way (which he shall know after he has opened his letters, which he must not do till he be at sea), he cannot imagine how the divines can be dealt withal but severally, except those at the Diet may stand for the body. As yet there is no full answer obtained from the state here, and the officers know not what they shall be permitted to do. Fears the Hollanders will be the stiffest of all in relation to Durie's proposal. The French, whom he feared most at first, and the Helvetians, are well disposed. He received yesterday a letter from all the churches of Switzerland testifying a great deal of forwardness. The churches of the Low Countries must be tenderly dealt withal, because the matter trenches upon their domestic controversies. Except at this Diet the matter be brought to an issue, he sees no way to prosecute it but that which is set down in Durie's proposition to the Archbishop. If Durie can but subsist in a mean way a year or two, his heart tells him that this seed may spring up, although no sunshine nor shower rain from England upon it. Hopes the churches will yet bless Roe's name for being a patron, and the only patron, of so good a work. So long as Durie sees appearance to do God service, he will not be wanting to the occasion, and hopes Sir Thomas will not discontinue his support so long as God shall give an apparent blessing to these attempts. [Two pages and three quarters.]
April 24.
Suffolk House.
28. Marm[aduke] Moore to G. R. Wakerlyn [Weckerlyn]. The bearer Mr. Hall is warned to appear before Sec. Coke this afternoon about some broken ordnance sold by the writer to Hall, which the King granted to the writer's Lord by warrant recorded in the Office of Ordnance. Thereupon they were not put into the list of those certified to be new cast, and upon that ground the office gave the writer a warrant to sell them. Prays him to excuse Hall for this present, because the matter concerns the Lord Warden. At any other time, the writer will attend with Hall to give an account of this business. [Three quarters of a page.]
April 24. 29. Suggestions for the fortification of the Isles of Scilly, stated in the endorsement to have been delivered into the hands of the Lord Treasurer. It appears that there was already a garrison at St. Mary's of 125 men. The writer of this paper, probably one of the Killigrews, suggests an addition of 175 to that number, and a grant of 3,000l. He minutely describes the situation of the harbour of St. Mary, and the character of the land around it. [One page and three quarters.]
[April 24.] 30. Conditions offered to consideration touching the undertaking to make powder. These are probably terms offered by Sir John Heydon and submitted to the King. They comprise all such conditions as were binding upon Mr. Evelyn, with some additions. [Two' pages.]
April 24. 31. Queries commanded by his Majesty to be answered, probably in reference to the conditions above mentioned, with answers written opposite to the same. Underwritten,
31. i. Two further questions connected with the same matter, and in reference to which his Majesty desired to be satisfied, with answers written opposite to them in the same manner as in the preceding. [Probably with reference to the latter part of the preceding paper, it is indorsed by Sec. Windebank with "1635" at the top, and as sent in by Sir John Heydon on the 21st April. The whole paper two pages.]
April 24. 32. Copy of the same, but without the indorsement. [Two pages.]
April 25. 33. Justices of Peace for Berks to the Council. Certify their proceedings according to the Book of Orders, for relief of the poor within the hundreds of Reading and Theale. The officers of Reading have not placed out any apprentices within their liberties, although there are many poor children within the same. [Three quarters of a page.]
April 25. Entry on the Admiralty Register of the appearance of Thomas Fenn of Holton, Norfolk, and that he was ordered to attend from time to time until discharged. [See Vol. cclxiv., fol. 8 a. Quarter of a page.]
April 25.
Westminster.
Edward Nicholas to his brother Dr. Matthew Nicholas. Has been entreated by a friend to desire Dr. Nicholas to learn whether if any man that might be able to do Mr. Lee a courtesy should purchase the remainder of Mr. Lee's estate in the corps of his prebend, he would grant him a further estate in it for three lives or twentyone years, and at what rates. [Copy. Nicholas's Letter Book. Domestic, James I., Vol. ccxix., p. 102.]
April 25.
Tehidie.
34. Francis Bassett to Nicholas. Will send in an Admiralty account speedily, albeit not any money has been received. The old business of good value for ordnance at St. Gennys lies so pestered by the King's tenants' suit thereon, as he cannot get order to dispose of it. Prays Nicholas's advice what course is to be held with prizes brought in by the Dutch, or Spaniard, into our harbours, whether they be still to be arrested. At St. Ives, there is at this time a Spanish prize taken by Jacques Lechaunter, of Flushing, in the Fortune of that town. She is laden with masts and anchors for great ships, and of 200 tons burthen. She has spent her own masts, and is not likely to go thence before directions may arrive, if Nicholas knows cause for any. She is commanded by John Pulack of Flushing, who was Lechaunter's lieutenant. [One page.]
April 25.
Bul[wick.]
[Sir Thomas Roe] to Lord Keeper Coventry. Was never worthy of his favours, much less to be remembered as a suitor in absence, and out of the sunshine of favour, yet the Lord Keeper had bestowed another living on Mr. Roberts in a good place, and [with] a competent maintenance, and thereby had disburdened Roe's conscience and love to provide for him who served Roe abroad and publicly. Strong expressions of gratitude. [Copy. See No. 26 in this present Volume. Half a page.]
April 25. 35. Sir Edward Dering to Archbishop Laud. Presents therewith his several answers to the articles exhibited against him by Mr. Bettenham, and recites at length and with strong comments, the various proceedings taken against him by Bettenham and Mr. Copley, the minister of Pluckley. The quarrel seems to have risen out of the enlargement by Sir Edward Dering, apparently without authority, of a vault of the Dering family in Pluckley church. In the course of the works connected with this enlargement, an old tombstone bearing arms was removed and defaced. This tombstone was claimed by Bettenham as having relation to one of his ancestors. Sir Edward contended that the stone covered "the bones of some of the Malemynes, great owners once in that parish," who were represented by the Derings. Sir Edward charges both parties opposed to him with much offensive conduct, and with combining to abuse him in his credit and profit, by which they had laid themselves open to a bill in the Star Chamber. Appended,
35. i. Answers of Sir Edward Dering to ten articles exhibited against him in the time of Archbishop Abbot. [Copy.]
35. ii. Sir Edward Dering to Archbishop Abbot, sending him the preceeding and offering either to attend the Archbishop if he would hear the cause, or obey any award if he would refer the same. Dover Castle, 2nd August 1631. [Copy.]
35. iii. The same to Mr. Copley. Letter on hearing that the person addressed was fomenting the disputes between Bettenham, and Sir Edward Dering. Dover Castle, 20th June 1631. [Copy.]
35. iv. Certificate of the successive churchwardens of Pluckley, co. Kent, from 1630 to 1633, that the church had not been blemished by the removal of the grave-stone in question, and that Sir Edward Dering had erected a pew in their church for the clerk, who before that time sat upon a stool out of sight of the parishioners. [Copy. Letter and appended papers, sixteen pages.]
April 26.
Whitehall.
The Lords of the Admiralty to Attorney-General Noy. Warrant to prepare a proclamation for revoking all seafaring men from foreign service by a certain day, with a clause of notice that his Majesty will henceforth cause exemplary punishment to be inflicted upon seamen who run away from his service. [Copy. Vol. ccxliv., fol. 8 a. Half a page.]
April 26.
Whitehall.
The same to the same. Similar warrant to prepare a proclamation to prohibit all the King's subjects from carrying in their main top the union flag, and requiring all his subjects of South Britain to carry the red cross, commonly called St. George's cross, and those of North Britain the white cross, commonly called St. Andrew's cross; and that only his Majesty's own ships shall carry the Union flag, that is, St. George's cross and St. Andrew's cross joined together. [Copy. Ibid. fol. 9. Half a page.]
April 26.
Whitehall.
The same to Sir Henry Marten. Some men are apprehended at Rochester for stealing provisions from the King's ships riding at Chatham. Conceive it necessary for prevention of the like, that there should be an exemplary trial of them, which cannot be so well done as by himself at the Admiralty Court, Southwark. He is to take order that the prisoners be removed to the Marshalsea and there tried. [Copy. Ibid., fol. 9. Half a page.]
April 26.
Whitehall.
Order of the same Lords on a memorial read to them by Sir William Boswell, his Majesty's agent with the States, of what he had done in the Low Countries upon complaints of the King's subjects recommended to him by the lords. The lords desired Sir William to bring them a copy of the States Declaration disapproving their men-of-war taking two busses belonging to some of the Society of the Fishing of Great Britain and Ireland, and desired Sir Henry Marten and Sir William Boswell, to consider the complaints of the King's subjects, and the answers thereupon, and to report the true state of such ordinances as have been made, tending to the prejudice of the King's subjects. [Ibid., fol. 9 a. Half a page.]
April 26.
Whitehall.
Lords of the Admiralty to Sir John Pennington, Admiral in the Unicorn, appointed for guard of the Narrow Seas. Instructions in his said employment. [These instructions are the same as those granted to him on the 16th April 1633, and calendared under that date, with one exception. In the former was a clause that if he saw any Hollanders and Dunkirkers in fight he was to pass by and leave them to their fortune. It appears from a MS. note of Nicholas, written in the margin of the copy of these instructions, Vol. clvii., fol. 125 b., that that clause was left out on the present occasion, "at the instance of Lord Cottington especially." The ships now under Pennington's command were to be the Unicorn, the Garland, the First and the Tenth Whelps. Copy. See Vol. clvii., fol. 132. Five pages.]
April 26. 36. Petition of John Machum, cook, to the Lords of the Admiralty. Has used the sea these six years. Prays for the place of cook of the Victory. [Half a page.] Annexed,
36. i. Certificate of Capt. Phineas Pett and six others. Recommend John Machum for cook in any of his Majesty's ships. [One page.]
April 27. 37. Petition of Henry Barradine, sailmaker, to the same. Petitioner's servant, Ralph Potts, went sailmaker in the Great Seahorse. He entered into pay 18th June 1630, and continued until 28th December 1631, when he deceased at Surat in the East Indies. Prays payment of the wages due to his servant. [Three quarters of a page.] Annexed,
37. i. Capt. William Marsh and David Jones to Sir William Russell, Treasurer of the Navy. Certificate that Ralph Potts had served in the Great Seahorse during the time above stated. [Quarter of a page.]
April 27. 38. Petition of Thomas Fenn to the same. Petitioner and others about three years since sent 274 quarters of malt out of Norfolk to London, to be sold, by Goldsmith, their factor, who trusted Nathan Bolt (being his uncle) to receive the money, whereof petitioner and the rest received part, and for 107l. residue thereof Goldsmith took bonds in petitioner's name and a bill of Bolt in his own name. The bond not being paid, petitioner not knowing Bolt caused him to be arrested, whereupon he obtained a warrant for bringing up petitioner, he being purser of one of his Majesty's ships. Petitioner never knew Bolt, and is willing to discharge him in case the Lords shall not give petitioner leave to proceed. Prays discharge. [Three quarters of a page.]
April 26.
Trinity House, Ratcliff.
39. Master and others of the Trinity House to the same. Report on petition for his Majesty to grant a patent for restraint of strangers' shipping to enter or come out of the harbours of this kingdom without a pilot. They are of opinion that it is not fit that such a patent should be granted. They state, as reasons, that it is unnecessary, the principal ports of England being open and free of danger; that it would give much discontent to strangers, and endanger the King's subjects to a like charge in foreign countries; all the ports in all countries were ever open to receive navigation, and "God forbid that the ports only of our King's dominions should be shut up;" all the ports in all the countries in the world are known to those seamen who trade to them, and the knowledge of our ports cannot be clouded from the knowledge of such persons. When a mariner has once been carried in and brought out of a place, he is there made a pilot for ever. [Two pages.]
April 26. 40. Statement by Dennis Fleming in explanation of two sales of old stores under warrants of the Officers of the Navy, which he signed with the others present at ordinary meetings in the Office of the Navy. He explains that the stuff sold was refuse, states the purpose to which the money was applied, and that the transaction was entered in the ledger for 1630 by Mr. Edisbury, then paymaster of the Navy. Annexed,
40. i. Note of short ends sold out of his Majesty's stores at Chatham in 1628 and 1629, by warrant of Sir Thomas Aylesbury and Dennis Fleming. The same produced 60l. 10s. 8½d., which is certified by Nathaniel Terne, and that amount was expended for oakum picking, tiling, &c., as is testified by William Lawrence. [Indorsed by Nicholas as "Mr. Fleming's answer touching cordage sold." Two pages.]
April 26. 41. Order of the Alderman and others of the Ward of Walbrook, apportioning among the parishes of that ward a rate amounting to 20l. 0s. 1d. assessed upon them in part of 500l. ordered to be raised in each ward for defraying all taxes thereafter to be raised for the use of the city. The assessment is founded upon the amount of a fifteen which upon the whole ward was 33l. 3s. 2d. [Copy. One page.]
April 26. 42. Receipt of Dr. Richard Baylie, President of St. John's College, Oxford, for 19l. 15s. 4d. paid him by Dr. Brian Duppa, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford, towards Archbishop Laud's buildings at St. John's. [Quarter of a page.]
[April 27 ?] 43. John Oxenbridge to Dr. Brian Duppa, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford. Answers to the interrogatories respecting the Sacramentum Academicum [see Nos. 19 and 20]. Admits that it was his own composition without advice. Long ago resolved to suppress it. First used it about the holidays of Christmas last. States by which of his scholars it had been taken. The books for grounds of religion which he has prescribed for his scholars are Junius's Bible, Rogers's Treatises, and Ball's Catechism. Calvin's Institutions proved too hard and too large for them. They are also provided with Bradshaw and Pemble on the Sacrament. Sets forth the general course of reading which he has endeavoured to keep them to. By the principal of the house wherein he is a commoner he has been sharply upbraided with indiscretion in this matter, and the copies of the Sacramentum which he had by him were burned before his face, a punishment which he would have thought proportionable to a young man's error, so soon seen and stopped. [Indorsed by Archbishop Laud as received this day. Two pages.]
April 27. 44. Petition of John Goodwin and twenty-three others, Officers of his Majesty's ships at Portsmouth, to the Lords of the Admiralty. On the remove of Robert Prickett, clerk, who theretofore officiated on shipboard, but is now disenabled, they beseech the Lords that Jonathan Fletcher alias Slack, may be substituted in his place. [One page.]
April 27.
Portsmouth.
45. John Goodwin to Nicholas. Entreats him to give the preceding petition to the Lords. It is to have in the room of Mr. Prickett a man that will give them very good content, and the ships will be better looked to upon the Sabbath days; for now the men will straggle ashore to go to church, and when they have one to preach on board, they will be better content and more willing to stay aboard. Further desires Nicholas to procure the writer leave to go to Ipswich. He and his wife grow in years, and he has two or three houses there, and would gladly settle things. For strangers' ships, there is at present but one small ship, a Frenchman, delivering salt. There have been since his last writing some thirteen small French in there laden with wines, and some wit salt, and one out of Portugal with sugar. [One page.]
April 27. 46. J. Duling to Nicholas. Recommends John Holland, cooper in his brew-house at Rochester, for a cook's place in one of his Majesty's ships. [Three quarters of a page.]
April 28. 47. Petition of John Flower to the King. Petitioner has been a servant to Emanuel Gifford for twenty years past, and his master was much indebted to him both for his service and by bond. His master died very lately outlawed, by reason whereof the small estate he has left is forfeited to his Majesty, and petitioner is out of hope to get any relief thereby. Beseeches his Majesty to grant him the benefit of the outlawry. Underwritten,
47. i. Reference to the Attorney General to prepare a bill accordingly. Whitehall, 28th April 1634.
April 28. 48. Petition of Capt. Daniel Le Clerke, Peter de Grave, Jacob Vermine, and John Blockmmortier [?] with their partners, owners of the Salamander of Flushing, to the Lords of the Admiralty. Capt. Le Clerke, under a commission of the Prince of Orange, took, when there was war between Great Britain and Spain, the Nostra Signora de Rosario, belonging to subjects of Spain, which has been adjudged lawful prize in the High Court of Admiralty. Prays them to confirm such sentence and order its execution. [Three quarters of a page.] Annexed,
48. i. Frederic Henry, Prince of Orange, to Daniel Le Clerke. Commission to command the Salamander, with power to employ himself therein against the enemies of the Low Countries. The Hague, 30th December 1628./9th January 1629. [Copy of authenticated translation into English. [One page.]
48. ii. Copy sentence of Sir Henry Marten in the High Court of Admiralty declaring the captured ship to be lawful prize. Latin. [One page.]
48. iii. Extract from the treaty of Southampton, between Great Britain and the United Provinces, dated 7th September 1625, whereby the ships of one party were authorized to to bring prizes captured from the common enemy into the ports of the other. French. [Half a page.]
April 28. 49. Copy of the preceding petition. [Half a page.] Annexed,
49. i. Frederick Henry Prince of Orange, to Daniel Le Clerke. Copy of the Commission before mentioned translated into English, [Two pages and a half.]
49. ii. Copy sentence of Sir Henry Marten before mentioned. Latin. [Two pages.]
49. iii. Copy extract from the treaty of Southampton, before mentioned. [Half a page.]
April 28.
Lambeth.
50. Archbishop Laud to the Lord Mayor and others of London. Recites the letter of the King to the Archbishop, of the 23d inst., respecting the repair of St. Paul's, calendared No. 21. According to his Majesty's command, the Archbishop sends a copy of the said letter, not doubting they will cause it to be registered among those things which they keep with greatest care. He hopes this piety and great munificence of his Majesty will stir up the City to extend their charity, that so the work may go on to the honour of themselves and the whole kingdom. [Draft. Three quarters of a page.]
April 28. 51. Dean and Chapter of Canterbury to Archbishop Laud. Send him their answer to the articles which he proposed to them, wherein as they have presented their remarkable offences, so they beg his favourable opinion of them until they have an opportunity to plead their excuse, resolving in the mean time to redress whatsoever is in their power. And for the rest they will heartily concur in the desire of a reformation, and bless God who has given them a gracious visitor furnished with will and power to effect it. To which end they request time until July, when from their general chapter they will present what they conceive fit to be added or altered in their statutes. [One page.]
April 28.
Christ Church, Canterbury.
52. Dr. Isaac Bargrave, Dean of Canterbury, to [Sir John Lambe]. In the name of most of the neighbour clergy, he recommends to his careful justice the cause of the bearer, Mr. Jervis, a most learned mere scholar, whose studies have been much diverted by most malignant and cunning adversaries. [Indorsed by Sir John Lambe. One page.]
April 28. 53. Presentment made by the Churchwardens and Sidesmen of Rothwell, co. Northampton. They present—Douse for a recusant, one person for living incontinently with his wife before marriage, and nine persons for not doing reverence at the name of the Lord Jesus in time of divine service. [Copy. Three quarters of a page.]
April 28. 54. Presentment by George Freeman and two others, of Scaldwell, co. Northampton, against Mr. Spencer, rector of that parish, for omitting many times to read the epistle and gospel, and for not bowing at the name of the Lord Jesus. They also present that the King's declaration is not yet read, and that there is a fame [against] Mr. Spencer for not burying Edward Munck as a Christian ought to be, stating that he was a usurer and a whoremaster, and did not deserve Christian burial, and omitting certain words enjoined to be read by the Book of Common Prayer; viz.: "in sure and certain hope, &c.," as also "the soul of our dear brother, &c." [Copy. Half a page.]
April 28. 55. Certificate from the Exchequer, that Robert French, late Under-Sheriff of co. Oxford, stood indebted 35l. 6s. 3½d., received from certain churchwardens on account of arrears of rent called Smokefarthings, payable from their churches to the late monastery of Eynsham. [Quarter of a page.]
April 28. 56. Petition of William Rowland, B.A., to the Master and Wardens of the Company of Coopers of London. Petitioner sometime Greek scholar of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, has for six years addicted himself to training youth in a grammar school, and in the village of Hammersmith has brought up divers scholars to the University, being destitute of preferment. He prays them to make him Master of their Free School in the town of Radcliffe. [Signed by the Master, Wardens, and others of the Coopers' Company. One page.]
April 29.
Wallingford House.
57. Lord Treasurer Portland and Lord Cottington to the Officers of the Navy. His Majesty has signified his pleasure to have 400 tons of cordage presently provided for supply of the magazine. They are to treat with merchants for the same, to be paid at Christmas next. [Copy. Three quarters of a page.]
April 29. 58. Speech of Bishop Corbet of Norwich, at a synod of the clergy of his diocese pressing them to contribute to the repair of St. Paul's. He urges upon them its antiquity, its magnitude, and its being a memorial of the heathen darkness from which the land was redeemed. He reminds them of their obligation to it—"Think, are you not beholden to it? Every man here to Paul's? To the body or to the chancel I dare pronounce you debtors. It hath saved you from a shower, give you something to the middle aisle. It hath helped you to prayer, give you something to the chancel; you have walked there and heard news, give you something for the walk's sake; you have sate and heard the organs, give you something for stall wages; some way or other there's a topic may make a room for your benevolence." He refers to the strong feeling in some places against the restoration of churches, and with considerable bitterness to the easy pews, with rings and curtains, and casements and locks: "there wants nothing but beds to hear the word of God on!" [Three pages and three quarters.]
April 29.
Star Chamber.
49. Notes by Sec. Coke of proceedings in the Court of Star Chamber on the hearing of a cause between Sir James Bagg and Lord Mohun. The charge was that Lord Mohun had raised a scandal throughout the country against Sir James, in reference to his accounts of money entrusted to him for purchase of victuals and billeting of soldiers in connection with the expeditions to Rhé and Rochelle. Lord Mohun had stated that Bagg had cozened the King of 20,000l.; he had also pretended authority to investigate Bagg's accounts. These notes comprise the speeches of counsel on both sides, together with the evidence. [Three pages and a quarter.]
April 29. 60. Decree of the University of Oxford for the expulsion of William Prynne, and his deprivation of his academical degree. It is recited that by the sentence of the Court of Star Chamber, it was deemed right that this expulsion and degradation should take place before he suffered the loss of his ears. Latin. [Copy. Endorsed by Prynne himself. Two pages.]
April 29. 61. Case as to the operation of a feoffment and fine of lands described as "Wh. ac.," and between parties who are indicated by initials, with the opinion of [E.] Henden thereon. By the endorsement it would seem that the case was connected with a cause of Luttrell contra Ley. [Three quarters of a page.]
April 29. 62. Receipt of John Clayton for 7l. 10s. from Alderman Cambell, his contribution towards "the Commission against Trymnel and Careless," his debt being 300l. [Quarter of a page.]
April 30. Entry on the Admiralty Register of the appearance before the Lords of Thomas Billing. He was ordered to remain in the Messenger's custody. [Vol. cclxiv., fol. 9a. Five lines.]
April 30. 63. Officers of the Navy to Lord Treasurer Portland and Lord Cottington. According to their letter of the 29th instant [see No. 57], they have treated with several merchants, and find remaining in their hands certain quantities of hemp, yarn, and cordage, which they will sell at prices to which being added other charges, will amount to 16,000l. In regard that the merchants have been hindered these six weeks from making sale of their goods to others, they desire that security may be agreed upon with all convenient speed. [Two pages.]
April 30. 64. Copy of the same. [One page and a half.]
April 30. 65. Answer of the Walloon congregation at Canterbury, and the Dutch congregations at Sandwich and Maidstone, to the questions propounded by Commissioners of Archbishop Laud on the 14th inst. The questions were in conformity with the directions of the Archbishop calendared in Vol. cclxv., No. 81. The answer is that they greatly honour the Archbishop, but beseech him not to be offended if they do not answer his questions, because it is a thing not used by any of his predecessors, and because they have letters patent by which in regard of their liturgy and discipline they are exempted from the jurisdiction of the Archbishops and Bishops. Beseech his favour in the continuance of the modest and peaceable exercise of their said liturgy and discipline. [Signed by the Ministers and Elders. One page.]
April 30. 66. List of Causes appointed to be heard in the Star Chamber this day. They were Thomas Wotmer versus John Rea and others (put off till Michaelmas term); Robert Reeve and another versus Henry Gray and others (Gray fined 50l. to the King, and 50l. to the plaintiff); Thomas Done versus Dame Dorothy Done and others (dismissed); John Rodman versus Robert Greenall, clerk, and others. [The general nature of the cases is stated in all these lists. One page.]
April 30.
Star Chamber.
67. Notes, by Sec. Windebank, made on the hearing of all the causes mentioned in the preceding paper, except the first. [One page and a quarter.]
April 30. 68. Account, by Sir William Becher, of public businesses in consideration of the [Council] this last month, which remain yet imperfected. Letter to the Mayor of Exeter to send up some person for concluding a course for prosecution of the merchants' affairs in France, written the 16th inst.; order for carrying the sewer of Covent Garden to the Thames, under consideration. Jury to enquire of nuisance to Whitehall by the soil brought thither. Committee for regulating coaches. Demands of new society of soap-boilers. Letter to Oxford to remove certain nuisances. [Half a page.]
[April.] Pardon to Thomas Violett, goldsmith, of all offences by him committed in the transportation of gold, silver, or bullion into foreign parts, and of other offences charged by two informations in the Star Chamber and Exchequer, and of all offences touching the goldsmiths' trade. [Docquet.]
[April.] Protection for Thomas Holt and John Holt, sons and executors of Henry Holt, late deputy victualler of the Navy at Portsmouth, for one year. [Docquet.]
April.
Whitehall.
69. The King to Lord Treasurer Portland and Lord Cottington. Sir John Winter having proffered to perpetuate to his Majesty and his successors a yearly revenue of 4,000l. out of the forest of Dean, in consideration of certain grants to be made to him of the growing trees in the same forest and the ironworks there, after the determination of the grant thereof to the Earl of Pembroke, and having already lent the King 4,000l., in part of 8,000l., for two years' rent agreed to be advanced, the Lord Treasurer and Lord Cottington are authorized to contract with Sir John accordingly, and to give warrant to the Attorney General to prepare a book for the King's signature. [In the margins are notes by Sec. Windebank and Attorney General Noy. One page.]
April. 70. The same to Sir John Bridgeman, a deputy constable of the forest of Dean. The King has given order to the Earl of Holland to call a Court of Justice in Eyre, within the said forest, for redressing the great abuses which through the discontinuance of the forest laws are there grown so high. Sir John is to yield his best assistance to the Sheriffs in choosing persons well affected to the King's service as regarders, and to instruct them in their duties; he is also to do whatsoever may conduce to the furtherance of this important business. [Draft. One page and a half.]
April [?] 71. Petition of John Speed, doctor in physic, to the Council. The Board on the last of January ordered the Company of Stationers, that notwithstanding a former order prohibiting the annexing the genealogies with the Bibles, they should proceed according to a patent in that behalf till they had further order. Though their pleasure was by the Master, Wardens, and assistants generally received with alacrity to perform it, yet the multitude of booksellers refuse to be governed by the said message, the Bibles being as they pretend before bound up, and have returned the genealogies, and since the message have dispersed many thousands of books without them, to the loss of petitioner. Prays order which may enjoin the Company of Stationers to annex the genealogies to the Bibles according to petitioner's privilege. [One page.]
April. 72. Petition of John Reeve, of Eye, co. Suffolk, to the Council. Upon certificate from Miles Edgar, and Laurence Lomax, late bailiffs of Eye, that petitioner among others had disobeyed his Majesty's Book of Orders, in refusing to entertain an apprentice, petitioner was sent for by warrant. By which certificate petitioner is much wronged, for the apprentice was dead about a fortnight before the certificate was made, and the petitioner being no housekeeper at the time the apprentice was tendered, offered to contribute to his binding forth, wherewith the new bailiffs were content. Petitioner prays for his discharge, and a reference to the Judges of Assize. [Half a page.]
[April ?] 73. Report of the Turkey, Muscovy, and Eastland Merchants to the same. In obedience to the letter of the Lords of the 22d February last, the said three companies of merchants had met and agreed to present certain considerations to the Lords respecting the cloth trade. They recommend that the short Suffolk, Essex, and Norfolk cloths should be of the breadth of six quarters in the water, and in length between 23 and 26 yards in the water, and in weight not less than 60 lbs.; that no tainter [tenter ?] be allowed in those counties above 35 yards long, and that no cloth be strained to hold above seven yards and inches more than its water measure; that long Western and Coventry cloths be made according to the statutes, except Stroudwater reds, the breadth of which to be six quarters. That gig mills be suppressed, and the mixture of fell wool, lambswool, thrums or other deceits be forbidden by proclamation, but that the merchants have till the 24th August to vent the cloths on their hands. [One page.]
April. 74. Petition of Capt. John Derickson, of Dunkirk, to the Lords of the Admiralty. Petitioner and some of his company have been above two months in the prison of Yarmouth, in great misery, being sent thither upon pretence of piracies. The very truth is, that petitioner in chase of a Hollander entered farther into the harbour of Yarmouth than is ordinarily permitted, upon knowledge that far greater insolences have been committed by the Hollanders against the subjects of Spain. If any person were slain by the artillery of petitioner's ship, it was in pursuit of the Hollander, and the party slain was a subject of Holland, and not of England. The other attempts on ships of Dantzic, or Hamburgh, pretended to have been made by petitioner, are utterly false, never having set on any but Hollanders. Prays order for his enlargement. [One page.]
April. 75. Archbishop Laud to [Thomas] Preston. The King finds that of late his subjects of the Roman profession are so far from taking the oath of allegiance, that they rather draw back, and more of late refuse the oath than were wont to do. This his Majesty has reason to take very ill, for his gracious connivance at men of their condition should have made them more pliable to the King's service, and ready to give him content and security in that behalf. The King is so confident of the love and loyalty of such of his people as are that way given in point of religion, that he assures himself that so many of them would not refuse were it not that the Jesuits persuade and urge them. Though Preston has been a great defender of the oath, yet the King is informed that some years past, by the persuasion of some ministers of State then residing here, he has either been cooled in his affection to this service or altered in his judgment. He is therefore commanded clearly to set down his judgment on this point and publish it in print, that the King's subjects may see that there is nothing required of them in this but what is just and lawful. [Draft written by Dell and altered by Archbishop Laud. One page.]
April. 76. John Nicholas to his brother Edward Nicholas. His late misfortunes by the fire force him to intreat Edward Nicholas to help him, being in so great misery that he was never in the like, and knows not what course to take, nor shift to make in the world for his wife and children. They have lost all the goods they had. [Half a page.]
[April.] 77. Capt. Thomas James to Nicholas. Is bold on the behalf of William Brooke, his master, whom he finds very diligent and deserving, to crave his favour. They hear that Sir Thomas Button is dead, and it is not unknown to many that he owed Brooke 100l., lent to him in his great necessity, and which the writer has heard Sir Thomas acknowledge, and promise payment out of his arrears. Notwithstanding Sir Thomas's death, his lady will sue for payment. Requests, if it be granted, that Nicholas will procure Brooke payment. [Half a page.]
April. 78. Philip Warrick [Warwick] to Robert Reade. He passed by Orleans, where he saluted their young master [Thomas Windebank], with whom he has a weekly intelligence in French—a language he has so mastered, that he writes with as much ease as Warrick does with pain. Prays Reade to keep him in Sec. Windebank's good grace. The Cardinal is conceived to have some great design; he is so fearful of his person, for he stirs not out without four or five hundred men. He has dismissed his captain for admitting two friars to attend him, in his gallery, without his permission. The good King follows his sports and the writer has not gaped enough upon Paris yet to see him. When Warrick has passed a month or two there he will haste home. [One page.]
April. 79. Brief in the Court of Arches in a cause of Judith May against William Dallison and Elizabeth his alleged wife. The object of the cause was to establish a pre-contract of matrimony between the plaintiff and William Dallison. The plaintiff became acquainted with the defendant, William, at the house of Sir Richard Sandys, at Throwley, Kent, where Sir Maximilian Dallison, father of the defendant William, lodged during the summer of 1631. This brief is on behalf of the plaintiff. [Fourteen pages.]
April. 80. Brief in the same cause on the part of the defendants. The maiden name of the defendant Elizabeth, whom William Dallison ultimately married, was Oxenden. She was grandaughter to Lady Oxenden, who lived in St. John Street, London, in which street Sir Maximilian Dallison had also a residence. From the endorsement of this brief it appears that the judgment of the court was in favour of Dallison, but that he was ordered to pay the plaintiff's costs. [Nineteen pages and three quarters.]